Self-feeding liquid dispensing and deodorizing device



1, 1954 M. M. REYNOLDS 2,587,916

SELF-FEEDING LIQUID DISPENSING AND DEODORIZING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'TlEi.

91 g6 28 v INVENTOR 55 5! Marian fifleynofls 7 BY V 4'7 39. 35 3.6 37 27 vi E2 5 Z0 3.9 ATTORNEYS Aug. 31, 19 M. M. REYNOLDS SELFFEEDING LIQUID DISPENSING AND DEODORIZING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR .Reynqzda A ORNEYS Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED SELF-FEEDING LIQUID DISPENSING AND DEODORIZING DEVICE Martin M. Reynolds, Old Greenwich, Conn., assignor to West Disinfecting Company, a corporation of New York Application July 26, 1950, Serial No. 175,995

4 Claims.

The present invention, while useful in other applications has particular utility in wash rooms and serves to eliminate disagreeable odors arising from the bowls of sanitary equipment. It is of the type that dispenses a suitable liquid, preferably an oil, for deposit upon the surface of the liquid in the bowl of the sanitary equipment in order to prevent the escape of odors therefrom and the oil is preferably perfumed in order that any odor that may develop before the oil completely covers the surface of the liquid in the bowl, will be masked.

The tightness of a wick if used to control the delivery of oil, is somewhat critical for if too tightly packed, it may too greatly restrict the flow for full efficiency, and if packed too loosely, the flow of oil therefrom may be at a rate faster than required, with consequent need for frequent servicing. A manufactusing variations in the weaving of a wick and the natural variations in the fibres themselves prevent accurate control of the wick flow rate, the use of a wick is often undesirable.

Where the hydrostatic head of the oil feeding such wick decreases with consumption of oil, the rate of feed will progressively decrease and if correct for a given head will be excessive for a higher head and inadequate for a lower head.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a liquid, dispensing device of the above type which is relatively simple in construction, having but few parts, none of which are delicate or likely to become deranged, which device is relatively simple to service and recharge without likelihood of spillng and which will dispense liquid therefrom at a constant and uniform rate substantially regardless of the quantity of liquid remaining in the device, and which device will spread the liquid over a relatively large area before discharge from the device with resultant effective exposure for evaporation of perfume that may be contained in such liquid, and'which will collect and dispense such liquid in drops.

According to the invention, the receptacle containing the liquid is provided with a porous wall portion through which the liquid oozes to form a film on the outer surface. Means are provided to maintain substantially a constant level in said receptacle so that'the'liquid therein will ooze therefrom at a constant rate of flow and means are desirably provided to'alter the level of the liquid in said receptacle so that the rate of flow therefrom may be adjusted.

I In a specific embodiment of the invention herein illustratively shown, the. liquid receptacle is desirably cup-shaped, preferably having a porous upstanding side wall and an impervious bottom wall or floor. The receptacle is desirably fed from a container for liquid positioned thereabove and having the mouth of its substantially vertical outlet extending downward into said receptacle and encompassed by the porous side wall and spaced from the floor thereof, whereby the level of the liquid in thereceptacle will rise only to the mouth of the outlet and be maintained at such level as long as suficient liquid remains in the container. Desirably means are provided to adjust the distance between the mouth of said outlet and the floor of said receptacle so that the level of the liquid in the latter maybe varied to adjust the rate of flow therefrom.

Mean are desirably provided to collect the liquid as it flows in a film down the outer surface of the porous wall of said receptacle. To this end, the receptacle desirably has a substantially cylindrical base of impervious material which serves as a gutter down which may flow the film of liquidthat oozes through the porous wall. The gutter desirably has a plurality of tongues struck out therefrom, each being substantially troughshaped and tapering to a point at its end. I Thus as the film of liquid flOWs down each tongue and converges at the pointed end thereof, it will collect and will fall off when the drop thus accumulated has reached suflicient size.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device on a larger scale taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3+3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken along line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the dispensingdevice desirably comprises a receptacle *6, preferably cup-shaped as shown and having aporous wall portion, which may be of bronze or ceramic material, through which a suitable liquid in the receptacle, preferably a light mineral oil, may slowly ooze to form a film on the outer surface of said wall portion.

The mineral oil desirably has a vicosity in the order of 5 to 15 centipoises so that it may readily pass through the porou wall portion and preferably is-perfumed bythe addition thereto of a 3 suitable essential oil such as oil of Wintergreen, the proportion of the essential oil to the mineral oil being selected as desired.

Although either the floor 6 or the upstanding side wall I of the receptacle or both could be porous, in the embodiment herein shown only the side Wall 'I' is-of porous material and the floor is desirably of impervious material.

The receptacle desirably has a substantially cylindrical base I which defines a gutter down which may flow the liquid which oozes through the porous side wall I and means are desirably provided to collect such liquid, so that it may be dispensed in drops.

To this end, the base I desirably has a plurality of substantially V-shaped slits 8 therein, defining substantially triangular trough-shaped tongues 8', concave in transverse section on their outer faces, with the side edges of said tongues converging toward their pointed lower ends 9. Thus, the film of. liquid flowing down along base 'I' will collect at the pointed ends 9 and when the drop thus accumulated has reached sufficient size it will be released.

In order that the liquid will discharge through the porous side wall I at substantially a constant rate, means are provided to maintain a constant level of liquid in said receptacle 6.

To this. end a container 5 iilustratively cylindrical in shape, is provided, positioned directly over receptacle 6 having preferably an axial outlet tube Ifl depending from the floor II thereof about aperture II in said fioor, into said receptacle, and encompassed by said upstanding sidewall I with the mouth Ill of outlet in extending below the upper rim of wall 7 and above fioor 6.. Thus the liquid flowing into said receptacle through the outlet ID of container 9' will only riseto the mouth IQ of said outlet ID thereby insuring that the level of liquid: in the receptacle-6 will remain constant, as long as there is a sufiicient supply of liquid in: the container 9.

In the embodiment herein, shown, the con.- tainer 9 has a conventional air tight removable snap type cap or. closure I3 for its filling aperturezor mouth. I 2 inthe short neck I2. of the container..

Although the. container 9. and. the receptacle 6 could be. mounted in any. suitablemanner; they are preferably positioned. in. a casing I3. which, as shown in Fig. 5,. desirably comprises a substantially U-shaped, shell. I4. having side walls I4 and I5 anda top; wallor cover I5, said shell I4 desirably being'open at. the bottom and rear thereof and having. a plurality of. vents. I6 in the lower portion-of the. side, walls I4 and I5.

Although the top wall I5 of the casing I3 could beformed integralwiththe shell I4, it desirably is a separate piece, preferably a substantially tray-shaped member whichisrigidly aflixedto the shell. To this end as shown. in. Figs. 1 and 2', a retaining strip. I6 preferably substantially U-shaped as shown, is affixed on the inner surface of the shell as by. welding, with its upper portion I8 protruding above the topriml1 thereof.

The rim I9. of the substantially tray-shaped cover I5 is-telescoped over the protruding portion I8 of the retaining strip I16! and is desirably aflixed thereto as by welding. Preferably the dimensions of the rim I9 and the shell I4 are so related, that when assembledas above described, adjacent edges 2|.- and; 22. of shell I4v and rim I9 will abut. as shown.

The shell I4, as shown in Fig. 5, desirably has inturned lateral flanges 23 on the open rear thereof, each of said flanges 23 desirably having an inwardly bent lip 24 along its length extending at right angle thereto.

Associated with the casing I3 is a back plate 25 and a wall plate 25, said plates desirably bein secured together and having a bottom piece 2'! rigid therewith and.- extending laterally outward from said plates. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, a substantially U-shaped retaining strip 29 is aflixed asby welding to the inner faces of the upstanding wall 28 of the tray-shaped bottom piece 2?, with the upper portion 3| of said strip 29 protruding abovethe wall 28.

The floor 35 of the bottom piece 27, which is concave as shown, is downwardly inclined, desirably from the front to the rear thereof and has openings 36 therein, preferably formed in the tops of substantially hemispherical rising protuberances 31 which may be pressed out from said floor. Desirably a: channel 3i. is formed insaid floor near the rear thereof leadin into a: discharge outlet 39, the latter having a nozzle 40 associated therewith.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the back plate 25 is desirably channel shaped, having lateral flanges 4| and 42 which are reversely bent as at 43 to form retaining grooves for the lips 24 of the shell I4 positioned on the juxtaposed plates 25 and 26 inthe manner hereinafter to be described.

The wall plate 26 is also preferably channel shaped and slightly longer than the back plate 25, said wall plate 25 desirably having obliquely extending lateral flanges 44 and 45 and. having a bent portion at the lower end thereof defining a transverse lip 46. The lateral. flanges 44- and 45 of the wall plate 25 are sufficiently spaced so that when the plates 25 and 26 are affixed. together as; by welding, the. lateral flanges 44 and 45 of. the wall plate 26 will straddle the laterai flanges 4| and 42 of the back plate 25.

A yoke, 47 desirably servestoassemble the back plate 25, the wall plate 25 and the bottom piece 21.1 This yoke has across piece 48 with vertical slots 49 from thelower edge near each endthereof which slotsstraddle the rear. wall 5 I- ofthe bottom piece 21. The legs 52 of yoke 4'Ilie against; the inner: faces respectively of: the; sides: 53 of: the retaining strip 29 to which. they are; securely; affixed preferably by welding, Desirably'the. lower ends of the lateralflanges AI and of the back panel 25 straddle the. cross piece 48 of the yoke 47; as shown. in; Figs. 2.and 5-with.the transverse lip' 48 of the W311i plate 26; resting against the lower portion of said' crosspiece 48' and aflixed theretozas by welding as at 55;

As shown inFig; 2 the container-9" isdesirably releasably mounted in: the casing I 3 so that it is vertically. movable therein. Tov this end the back: plate 25 hasza: longitudinally extending hook 8I desirably struckout therefrom on: which the container 9 may be-hung byrmeanszofthe cross piece 83 of asubstantially U-shaped bridge 82 which is aflixedto the wall of the container.

The receptacle. 6: is removably supportedwith the lower edge 89- of its base 1." resting on; the floor of bottom: piece- 2:1 and. encompassing: the protruding bosses: 3-7 thereon; The: lower edge of said base desirably has a plurality ofnotches 91' therein topermit the liquid. flowing down' the gutter onto the floor of: the bottom pieceto-pass throughsaid-notches so that it may. escape from the nozzle 40.

Means are desirably. provided topermit displacement ofrthe-mouth I0 of outlet- Ifl relative to floor 6' of said receptacle 6 so that the level of the liquid in said receptacle may be varied. This could be effected by raising or lowering the receptacle 6, but in the preferred embodiment herein shown the outlet I0 is arranged to be raised or lowered. To this end an internally threaded sleeve 92 may be aflixed at one end, as by welding, to depend from the undersurface of the bottom wall I I of said container and a screw 93 is threaded into said sleeve with the free end 94 of said screw resting on the floor 6' of said receptacle. It is thus a relatively simple matter to raise or lower the mouth III of the outlet II) with respect to the floor of the receptacle by merely turning the screw 93 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction before positioning the container in the casing I3.

In order to prevent escape of liquid from the outlet I6 of the container 9, when the latter is filled through the filling mouth thereof, with possible overflow of the receptacle 6, suitable valve means are provided for the outlet I9 preferably constructed to close said outlet when the cap I 3 is removed from the rim I2 of the mouth I2 for filling of said container, and to open said outlet I0 when the cap I3 is aifixed on said rim I2.

To this end an actuating rod II extends axially of said container, and is of such length that it may protrude above the rim I2 of mouth I2 and below the opening I I in bottom wall I I. A valve closure member, desirably a substantially conical valve head I2 is afiixed to the end of the actuating rod II which extends through opening I I, so that the conical portion I3 of the valve head I2 may coact with the mouth ID of the outlet I 9 to seal the latter.

Means are desirably provided to retain the valve head I2 in sealing position with respect to mouth I9 when the cap I3 is removed from the rim I2 and to move said valve head 12 away from the mouth I9 when cap I3 is positioned on rim I2. To this end a coil spring I6 is desirably provided, encompassing the lower portion of the actuating rod II, said spring being compressed between the bottom Wall II and a disc or collar 1! affixed on said actuating rod II. Thus the spring will tend to urge the collar 11, and hence the actuating rod II to its uppermost position. However as the movement of the actuating rod II is restrained by the cap I3, the valve head I2 will be spaced from the mouth I0 of the outlet I0. When the cap I3 is removed from the rim I2, the upper end I8 of the actuating rod II under the urging of coil spring I6 will protrude from the filling mouth I2, thereby causing the valve head I2 to seat on the mouth II! of the outlet I0 to close the latter.

To install the device, the assembled back plate 25, wall plate 26 and bottom piece 21, are mounted on a Wall as shown in Fig. 2 by means of screws 98 which pass through suitable openings 99 in the back plate and Wall plate. The receptacle 6 is then positioned on the bottom piece 21 with the lower edge 89 of the base of the receptacle resting on said bottom piece and encompassing the openings 36 therein. The container 9 is then mounted on the back plate 25 by sliding the bridge 82 of such container over hook 8 I. With the cap I3 removed from the rim I2 of the filling mouth I2, the valve head I2 will be seated against the mouth I9 of the outlet I 0 sealing the latter. After the container is filled with a suitable liquid, the cap I3 is pressed over rim I2 to seal the filling mouth I2 and to depress the actuating rod II thereby moving the valve head I2 away from the mouth ID of outlet I 0 to open the latter. The

liquid in the container will thereupon flow through the outlet II] to fill the receptacle 6 to the level of the mouth III of said outlet II], the liquid level being preferably set by adjusting the screw 93 in threaded sleeve 92 in the manner heretofore described.

The casing I3 is then mounted on the back plate 25 by positioning the lips 24 of the casing in the grooves formed by the reversely bent lateral flanges 4|, 42 of said back plate and lowering said casing until the bottom edge IOI thereof abuts against the upper edge 32 of the bottom piece 21, the oblique lateral flanges 44, of the wall plate 26 preventing rearward displacement of said casing I3 as shown in Fig. 4.

As the upstanding wall I of the receptacle 6 is porous, the liquid therein will ooze therethrough and form a film which will fiow down the outer surface of wall I and also down the gutter I. The odor of perfume in such liquid will escape through the vents I6 in side walls I 4' and I5 of the casing I3 and through holes 36. As the film of liquid flows down the gutter I it will gather at pointed ends 9 of the trough-shaped lip portions 8' thereby forming a drop at each of such ends, which when they have grown to sufiicient size, will drop and splatter as they hit the floor of the bottom piece 21, to disperse the liquid for enhanced dispersion of the perfume therein through vents I6 and holes 36.

By reason of the inclined floor of the bottom piece 21 the liquid thereon will flow down said floor into the channel 38 at the rear thereof and then be discharged in drops through the nozzle 49. Because of the hemispherical protuberances 37 on the bottom piece the liquid flowing down the floor thereof will not escape through the openings 36 therein, which permit the perfume vapors to flow out of the casing and also provide for the flow of air into the casing to increase the dispersion of the perfumes in the liquid, through the vents I6.

With the construction above described, the level of liquid in the receptacle will remain substantially constant as long as sufficient liquid is in the container to fill such receptacle to the level of the mouth III of the outlet I0. As a result, the flow of liquid through the porous wall I of the receptacle 6 will remain substantially constant so that once the liquid level which determines the rate of fiow, is set by adjusting the screw 93 to provide sufiicient flow of liquid from the device to perform the desired function of masking and preventing disagreeable odors arising from the bowls of the sanitary equipment, the device will function properly with substantially no waste until substantially all the liquid in the container is exhausted.

Inasmuch as the rate of flow is substantially constant for any given setting of the screw 93, it is a relatively simple matter to determine the length of time it will take for the container to become exhausted. Hence the number of calls to service the device can be kept to a minimum.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I c1aim,as newand desire to secure by Letters :Patent of the :United States is ,l. An apparatus of the character described ,comprising acontainer for liquid having an outlet anda substantially cup-shaped liquid receptaclehavingan upstanding side wall of rigid material of substantially fixed porosity encompassing said outlet, and afloor of impervious material, said outlet being spaced from said ,fioor, whereby liquid;flowing into said receptacle will rise 'to the level of saidoutlet, and will be S w y ischarged at substantially uniform rate through said porous wallportion, said receptacle having a zbase of impervious mate-rial forming ,a gutter below said porous side wall, said gutter being aligned with the outer surfaceof said side wall,

whereby the liquid discharged through said porous side wall will vflowdown said gutter, said ,gutterhaving means thereon to collect and dispense such liquid in drops.

--2. The combination set forth in claim ,1 in whichlsaid last named meanscomprises a pluralitypf substantially triangular trough shaped tongues on said gutter, eachlongi tudinally conc ave.on itsouter face, the side edges of each, r

,tainer in said casing, saidcontainer having a substantially vertical outlet at the lower end thereof withits mouth pcsi tionedin said recep- ;ta cle and spaced from the fioor thereof,-where- .by the liquid insaid container will flow into said receptacleand rise to the level ofthemouth of said outlet and be slowly discharged at substantially uniform rate through said porous wall portion to the floor of said bottom piece and through said discharge ,outlet, hook engaging vmeansonsaid container engaging said ,hook on said support means .so as to be movable .vertically thereon and means to movelsaid container vertically with respect to said upright support to vary the distance between the mouth ,of said outlet ,and the ,fioor of said receptacle .to adjllst =the .level of ,the liquid ,insaid receptacle.

,4. As an article of ,manufacture a substantially cup-shaped liquid receptacle having an impervious-floor andanupstanding rigid porous side wall, said receptacle having a baseof impervious material forming a gutter aligned-with the outer surfaceof ,saidporous side wall, said gutter having a plurality of substantially triangular trough shapedtongues eachconcave in transverse section on itsouter face with the side edgesof each tongue converging toward its lower end, said ,ends extending outwardly from said gutter.

.ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 563,464 Fahrney July 7, 1896 31,100 Callzins Aug. 20, 1901 729,459 Waltz May 25, 1903 940,097 Walsh Nov. 16,1909 959,111 Buckland May24,-1910 976,992 Effantin Nov. 29, 1910 1,1;56,974= Chapman Oct. 19, 1915 1,309,820 Sherman July 15, 1919 1,349,314 Bates Aug. 10, 1920 1,630,837 Drushel May 31, 1927 1,734,584 Kooperstein Nov. 5, 1929 1,893,648 Kooperstein Jan. 10, 1933 2,255,491 Mohen Septf9', 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS :Number i Country Date 564,307 France Oct. 17, 1923 

